Our brand new Early Years and Infant Campus has been specifically designed to allow children to learn directly from their environment, from other children and also from their teachers. It will provide a place where your child can gain a sense of self, explore, play with his/her peers, and build confidence. Children are capable of great concentration when they are presented with interesting things to do and the time and freedom to do them in an environment that is safe and nurturing.
In-keeping with the Reggio Emilia Educational Philosophy, environment is considered the "third teacher." With that in mind, great attention has been given to the look and feel of each classroom.
Internally, rooms are linked to allow for dynamic interaction between classes. Large, multi-purpose spaces are shared amongst clusters of classrooms providing teachers and students with different levels of learning experiences. Teachers will have the opportunity to organise and reorganise interesting and creative spaces for a wide range of group projects as well as small intimate spaces for one, two or three children.
Views to the outside are provided in each and every room in the building creating a pleasant ambiance throughout. Even the basement canteen, swimming pool and play spaces have direct views to the sunken courtyard garden. In addition, on the roof, learning gardens provide a green environment for the children while taking advantage of all the sustainability benefits of a LOTUS project.
It is essential at this early stage of education that academic subjects are enriched and enlivened in a way that meets the developmental stages of the children, offering both sensory and intellectual nourishment. Teachers are dedicated to creating a genuine love of learning within each child. By freely using art, craft, music and language in conjunction with the teaching of academics, learning becomes a living, creative process.
Greener is Cleaner
In 2017, as a part of a Nord Anglia Education global collaboration, we committed to UNICEF and the Sustainable Development Goals. These goals include Responsible Consumption and Production as well as Climate Action. Our loyalty to these goals goes beyond empty statements. To that end, we are pleased to announce that BIS HCMC, Early Years & Infant Campus is fully LOTUS certified.
The building is designed to take advantage of the cool nature of the water canal which wraps around three sides of site forming an “island” school. Its organic form follows the site and wraps around a sunken courtyard on three sides. In effect, all the circulation spaces including lobbies and corridors allow cross ventilation to penetrate into the building as it takes advantage of the internal facades facing the courtyard. This ultimately reduces the requirements of air conditioning loading for the building. Windows with rows of green plants along these additional courtyard facades also allow for ambient sunlight to enter into the building reducing electrical usage.
The windows surrounding the building have been designed with appropriate sun-shading devices according to their orientation to ensure that light enters the building while reducing heat gain and glare.
Surrounding the building are landscaped playgrounds with grass and porous paving to allow for natural rain drainage. Trees provide shading throughout while cars are not permitted to enter into the site to ensure that the school has good air quality. A naturally ventilated sheltered reception lobby complete with a café greets visitors with a backdrop of tropical plants.